I have finally given in. I’ve agreed to get a Mac.
Why?
For some time now, we’ve been what I would call a “hybrid” church as it relates to our computing infrastructure. Our staff responsible for production have been using Macs since around 2008. The rest of us have remained on PCs. One by one, though, we’ve provided more staff with a Mac, mostly upon request when they have come on staff. In every case, though, these staff were able to demonstrate that they had a significant role in the “production process” in one way or another.
A year or more back, our senior pastor got an iPad. He, along with most of the rest of us, has had an iPhone for a long time. Now (as of a few months ago) he has a Mac. His PC went belly up and the fix was to get him a Mac. And, like the others, a strong argument can be made that he has a “significant” role in the production process. Right?
Back when our senior pastor got his Mac, he asked me about why the rest of the staff (basically the church’s computing infrastructure) couldn’t/shouldn’t move to Mac? I said, “Good question.” Up to that point I had resisted suggestions that I move from PC to Mac. I’m a long-time “PC guy.”
However, I’m also a long-time “do what is best for the business guy.”
The question is, What will work best in terms of helping the staff to accomplish the mission of the church?
Just before heading to Vegas to attend this year’s Executive Pastors’ Summit, I told our senior pastor that I would look around at what the other executive pastors were doing and, more to the point, what their churches were doing. What do you think I found?
Over 70% of the leaders in the room were using Macs! I must say it was a bit of a surprise, given the crowd. Executive pastors are “business people.” Right? Their churches were pretty much “hybrid” (both Mac and PC), but more and more are moving to an all Mac environment. Interesting.
Thinking about it, though, it makes sense. What do churches really do? Where I had been comparing the church’s “business” to the business world outside the church (still largely PC), I should have been comparing the church’s business to that of Cirque Du Soleil or NBC. Most of the corporate world is 90% business with a little “media production” thrown in. The church is 90% production with a little “business” thrown in. Right?
I’ll keep you posted on my progress. I’m making the move as of a few days ago. Stay tuned.
For now, let’s do a little survey. By leaving a comment, let us know what your church is doing. Hybrid? All PC? All Mac?
